Shipping basket



A ril 18, 1933. J. B. STEEL I SHIPPING BASKET Filed Nov. 24, 1931 '20 through the'lower part of the basket,

Patented Apr. 18, 1933 UNITED: STATES JOHN B. STEEL, or NORFOLK, VIRGINIA, 'Assrenon mohair-nines nanurno'runrne coma:

, mm, or NORFOLK, vmemm,

A CO-B I' Q IR N A snirrmeflnes inrfllI j Application filed. November 24', 193i. fjseiial iwafjsfinw. 1' r This invention has relation to 'that'type of shipping basket or hamper used for the shipment offruitsand vegetables and generally constructed of thin veneer staves sultably fastened together by hoops and provided with a substantially solid bottom, the

upper end of the basket beingprovided with wire handles which serve during shipmentfor fastening the cover in place. The object of the present invention is to simplify and improve the bottom construction to the end that it will be exceptionally sturdy I so as to withstand the roughest usage in handling when the basket is loaded and which Wlll be comparatively inexpensive tomanufacture,

as more fully hereinafter set forth.

In the drawing annexed, Fig. 1 is a s de elevation of my improved basket.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken Fig. 3 is a bottom view of the basket partly in horizontal section; and

Fig. 4 is a top view of the bottom plate detached. V. r

In the drawing, the reference numeral 5 designates the veneer staves which are bound together at the lower ends of the basket between a pair of hoops, an inner hoop 6 and an outer hoop 7, staples being usually used for this purpose. In the basket thus formed,

I fasten my improved bottom, "which consists of a plurality of thin boards'8, preferably fastened together edge to edge by means of the usual sheet metal fasteners 9.

Fastened'to the underside of the bottom 8 is a series of bars 10, spaced apart equidistantly around the circular edge of thebottom and set back from the edgea distance equal to the thickness of the hoop 6. These 40 bars have their inner. faces straight and their outer faces curved to fit snugly against the inner wall of the hoop and each is nailed to the bottom 8 by a plurality of nails 11 driven down thlough the bottom boards and terminating in the bar 10. When the bottom thus formed is placed in the basket, with the segmental bars 10 facing downwardly, the curved outer faces of these bars 10 fit against the inner face of the inner hoop 6 andthe projecting edge of the bottom 8 rests on the top-of said hoop. secure'the parts in this assembled relationship,RI"drive two [or more nails or 'staples12 into the bars 10' through the lower hoop structure 6,7, the ends of the r nails terminating in the bars 10.

At least 8 5 two of thebars 10 are arranged to span the joint-or joints formed by makingthe bottom 8 of two or more piecesof board,which "is the "usual practice.

The bottom structure suchasdes'cribed has been 'found in practice to be very sturdy and thus well. adapted to withstand the rough handling these baskets receive on the wayf from the packer to the consumer. This M sturdy structure permits the bottom proper to be made of thinner and cheaper lumber than ordinarilyused. It will be observed also that as comparedwith that type of solid bottom which is provided with a cleat or slat fastened to its underside and abutting against the inner hoop, my bottom has the advantage that it does not obstructto any material extent the space created under the basket by the o raised bottom, this being important in that it not only permit-s the basket to be stacked oni'; another basket whose top is bulged upwardly bythe contents thereof, but also because it renders'it easier to find a place on the floor or the ground on which to place the basket in a steady, upright position. Also as compared 35 with the aforesaid cross-bar type of bottom,

I not only'obtain a sturdier construction by reason of the fact that the segmental bars 10 are placed at four different points around the bottom, but also I economize in the use of "Q5 lumber in view of the fact that I may use for the bars 10 small scraps of lumber which have heretofore been unusable.

My device possesses the further advantage against the'cross-bar type of bottom because 'to in th'attype ,of bottom the ends of the bar abut againstthe hoop and therefore, the fastening nails have to be driven into the ends of the bar, i. e; parallel with the grain of the wood, whereas in my structure the nails are driven cross-grain into the segmental bars, thus giving me a nail anchorage much safer and'stronger' than is possible with the bar or cleat type of bottom and at the sametime y making itunllkely that rough usage of the basket when loaded will dislodge the segmental bars.

I claim: In a shipping basket of the type set forth, 5 a body structure having the lower ends of the staves thereof clamped between a pair of bottom hoops, one inside the body and the other outside thereof, a board bottom whose outer edge rests on the upper edge of the inner hoop, and a plurality of narrow bars fastened to the under-face of the bottom and having their outer edges curved to fit against the inner face of the hoop, the grain in each one of these bars running lengthwise thereof and each bar having its outer face curved to fit against the inner face of the hoop, whereby the center portion of the bottom is left unobstructed, said bars being spaced apart around the hoop structure and being ,20 directly fastened to the hoop structure by fastenings passing inwardly through the hoop structure and entering said bars across the grain thereof.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature. JOHN B. STEEL. 

